Fire at Wil

Wil Anderson begins this set by lamenting a devastating professional loss: the ousting of Prime Minister Tony Abbott, which instantly wiped out months of prime political material. Having spent years dividing his time between Australia and America, Anderson uses this hour to focus entirely on the absurdities of his home country. He delivers his trademark high-energy commentary on stage at Melbourne’s Comedy Theatre, tackling the national obsession with long weekends alongside the Johnny Depp dog-smuggling saga.

The special originally premiered in 2017 as part of the streaming service Stan’s ‘One Night Stan’ series. A veteran of the Australian comedy circuit and long-time host of ABC’s Gruen, Anderson brings a journalist’s eye to the stage. He tackles heavier social issues, including the controversy surrounding indigenous AFL player Adam Goodes and the debate over Australia Day, with a self-aware approach that acknowledges his own leftist biases while keeping the audience laughing. Other bits include a story about a mistaken identity Twitter exchange and a riff on waiting out the Queen’s reign before declaring a republic.